A Season’s Journey || TIME FOR MUTUAL SUPPORT
Injury to Torrey Pines’ starting setter forces highly ranked volleyball team to nurture then lean on its talented backup
About the series

“I didn’t want them to feel like we were going to lose matches because we didn’t have our starting setter,” said Torrey Pines senior Erin Dobson (5),
who temporarily replaced injured setter Ryann Chandler (far right) as the Falcons began play in an important tournament. JOHN GASTALDO • U-T photos

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“I didn’t want them to feel like we were going to lose matches because we didn’t have our starting setter,” said Torrey Pines senior Erin Dobson (5),
who temporarily replaced injured setter Ryann Chandler (far right) as the Falcons began play in an important tournament. JOHN GASTALDO • U-T photos

Orchestrating an offense composed of five Division I pledges at the Tournament of Champions — one of California’s premiere annual showcases for elite girls volleyball programs — intimidated the senior setter.

“I set them in practice all the time, so I know their styles, but it’s different in matches,” Dobson recalls. “I was quiet. I kept to myself early even though I’m usually a vocal person.”

Before the tournament, Torrey Pines was on a path to recovery. The Falcons addressed a bevy of issues — lack of communication, lack of confidence, bickering and verbal and non-verbal jabs — during a team therapy session and were anticipating a return to form on the court.

However, Torrey Pines encountered another challenge. Ryann Chandler, a Pepperdine commit who sustained a concussion against Poway on Oct. 19, hadn’t been cleared to play.

“Ryann is arguably one of our most important players because she touches the ball essentially every single play,” said Falcons coach Brennan Dean.

“She directs our attack. She’s our quarterback in a sense.”

Under Dobson, Torrey Pines squeaked past two league opponents, defeating Mt. Carmel and Rancho Bernardo to extend the winning streak to five matches. The tournament, however, offered a much more daunting challenge.

It fielded four of California’s top 12-ranked teams, including L.A. Marymount, which defeated Torrey Pines 29-27, 25-10 in the California Challenge, dropping the Falcons from their No. 1 ranking in the country.

“The one thing I was worried about was disappointing my team,” Dobson said.

“I didn’t want them to feel like we were going to lose matches because we didn’t have our starting setter.”

Dean knew how difficult it would be without Chandler, but never doubted Dobson’s abilities or that the team could continue its success against top-notch programs. And expressed it in a team meeting.

But Dobson wasn’t so sure. Being thrust into an environment of this magnitude after only starting two matches prior weighed heavily on her.

“I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to provide the standard type of play that (Ryann) provided,” Dobson said.

Her nervousness triggered a couple mistakes in the first game, causing the normally vocal leader to retreat to her shell.

Sets varied. Although some were perfect, many were too low or too high, while others hugged the net, forcing the hitter to adjust and triggering apologies from Dobson.

Regardless, teammates would fire back with “next play” or “forget about it,” attempting to quell Dobson’s worries.

It was an adjustment for everyone. Her teammates were accustomed to Chandler positioning the volleyball in certain spots. She knew their tendencies and sweet spots because they had 19 matches to tweak it.

Dobson and various hitters on the front row didn’t have that luxury. Dobson had to adjust and so did they. It wasn’t going to happen overnight.

“(Sets) weren’t always going to be how you liked them or in the places you liked them, but we had to be patient and try not to get frustrated because it was going to take some time,” said Savannah Rennie, a sophomore outside hitter.

“I tried to look at it through Erin’s perspective. It’s tough for me, but it’s even tougher for Erin because setter is one of the most difficult positions on the court, and to just hop in there all of a sudden wasn’t going to be easy.”

Despite trailing early, Torrey Pines rallied to outlast Salinas 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 24-26, 17-15 to advance to the next round. With the first match out of the way, the next biggest hurdle was eliminating the thoughts that consumed her mind.

“I thought to myself, ‘If Ryann were in we would have won in three games,’ ” she said.

“I had to continue telling myself: stop it, calm down, you can’t do this to yourself, you can’t be that hard on yourself, it’s a team game, all of us are in that situation, let’s move on and win some more matches.”

Her teammates challenged those thoughts with positivity and encouragement because Dobson was being too hard on herself. She was doing fine.

“We knew she could play well. She just needed a boost. We needed her just like she needed us.”

Little things helped Dobson’s confidence. High fives. Hugs. Fist bumps. Dancing. Showers of “good job” and “next point” and “we have such a great connection.”

Chandler, Dobson’s biggest supporter on the sidelines, often leaped up and down, cheering Dobson following a point scored. She offered support vocally, too.

“During, I would try to go up to her as much as I could to tell her how great she was setting or tell her to shrug things off because she wasn’t really used to the next play mentality,” Chandler said.

Confidence and reassurance from teammates and Dean sparked confidence in Dobson, validating her role as one of the leaders on the court. No longer would she tiptoe around providing input. No longer would she just nod her head in agreement and say “OK.” It was her huddle. And Dobson embraced it.

Against Clovis West, Dobson outsmarted a couple defenders. Libero Maddy Kerry delivered a high arching ball to Dobson near the net. Reilly Buechler, waiting on the outside, readied herself to take a swing.

Dobson set the ball, but instead of pushing it farther left, dumped it over the net into an open space on the floor for a kill of her own, leaving the two blockers stumped.

Torrey Pines might not have achieved the success the team wanted — claiming the Tournament of Champions championship. However, the Falcons positioned themselves for success in league play and during the section playoffs.

Without Chandler, the team was forced to rally together around Dobson, who had one week under her legs, for a respectable finish.

Their performance showed them that they could set aside their differences, overcome the turmoil experienced in the weeks prior, elevate a teammate in need, elevate their individual play to compensate and perform despite losing arguably their best player.

The team, not one particular individual, could and would achieve success.

“Being in this situation was a life lesson for me,” Dobson said.

“I am capable of playing at a high level and being the leader of a group of great players. I think I kind of forgot that.”